René Rast topped the timesheets in DTM first practice at Zolder, the first on-track action since the series last visited the circuit in 2002. The Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver’s time of 1 minute 22.941 seconds could not be matched.
First practice got underway as heavy cloud loomed overhead. Morning rain had left the track greasy, giving the drivers an extra challenge as they adapted to driving a DTM car at the 4 km circuit.
The track was rarely quiet, as teams sought to gather as much data as possible at what is a ‘new’ circuit to many.
Early on BMW Team RMG driver, and championship leader, Marco Wittmann exchanged fastest times with local hero, Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Robin Frijns.
Then, as the track began to dry out, the pace increased, with Frijns’ teammate Nice Müller and BMW Team RMR’s Philipp Eng exchanging quick times before Rast went fastest.
Wittmann finished the session second, 0.790 seconds behind Rast. Frijns was third fastest, 0.813 seconds back, with Eng in fourth.
Rookie Jonathon Aberdein was fifth fastest, 0.917 seconds off the top time, and ahead of Audi Sport Team WRT teammate Pietro Fittipaldi.
Müller who had topped the times briefly finished the session in seventh, the final driver within a second of Rast’s pace.
Jake Dennis was the highest placed R-Motorsport I driver in eighth with a time of 1 minute 23.974 seconds, only four-hundredths faster than R-Motorsport’s Daniel Juncadella.
Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Loïc Duval rounded out the top ten, 1.219 seconds off the pace.
Second practice takes place at 17:10 CEST (16:10 BST).
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 33 | René RAST |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 25 | 1:22.941 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 1:23.731 | 0.790 |
| 3 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 26 | 1:23.754 | 0.813 |
| 4 | 25 | Philipp ENG |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 1:23.828 | 0.887 |
| 5 | 27 | Jonathan ABERDEIN |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 25 | 1:23.858 | 0.917 |
| 6 | 21 | Pietro FITTIPALDI |  |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 25 | 1:23.881 | 0.940 |
| 7 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 26 | 1:23.902 | 0.961 |
| 8 | 76 | Jake DENNIS |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 21 | 1:23.974 | 1.033 |
| 9 | 23 | Daniel JUNCADELLA |  |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 24 | 1:24.014 | 1.073 |
| 10 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 23 | 1:24.160 | 1.219 |
| 11 | 31 | Sheldon VAN DER LINDE | |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 1:24.174 | 1.233 |
| 12 | 53 | Jamie GREEN | |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 23 | 1:24.191 | 1.250 |
| 13 | 7 | Bruno SPENGLER |  |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 1:24.245 | 1.304 |
| 14 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 24 | 1:24.351 | 1.410 |
| 15 | 3 | Paul DI RESTA | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 25 | 1:24.447 | 1.506 |
| 16 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 28 | 1:24.570 | 1.629 |
| 17 | 47 | Joel ERIKSSON |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 25 | 1:24.575 | 1.634 |
| 18 | 62 | Ferdinand VON HABSBURG | |
R-Motorsport | Aston Martin Vantage DTM | 19 | 1:25.233 | 2.292 |